Machine for applying belt lacers and the like



Dec. 10, 1940. J DIAMOND 2,224,184

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BELT LACERS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1-939 '2 Sheets-Sheet l 4a 54 7 4 d? 1 Z i 1 5 L n 11 .32 1 15 Z J&

INVENTORM ATTORNEYS Dec. 10, 1940. J. K. DIAMOND 2,224,134

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BELT LACERS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1939 Patented Dec. 10, 1940 umrgeo s TATES ore-ice MACHINE -FOR APPLYING'BELTI LACERS THE'LIfKE James K. Diamond, Grand Rapida'Mich.

Application January 27, 1939, Serial No.-253,055

: Claims.

This invention *relates' to improvements in machines -fo'r applying-"belt lacers'and the like.

The main objects'ofthis invention are:

First, to provide-a beit lacing machine or ma chine-{forapplying belt 'lacers which may be used *asaportable unit and one which is verypowerful and at the same time comparatively light in "weight.

Second,"to' provide-amachine of the class describedwhich 'has a wide'range of adjustment and "may be quickly adjusted to belts for the setting of fasteners or belt 'hooks'on lacings in belts-of different thicknesses.

Third, toprovide a machine of this character in which the belt lacings-are very effectively set and ma manner not to 'cause distortion thereof.

Objects relating topdetails and economies of theinventionwill" appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the-claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is'afrontelevation of a belt lacing machine embodying-the "features of my invention with the jaw membersthereof in'open position.

Fig.2 is an end'elevation looking fromthe left of Fig. 1 showing a-machineas mounted upona bench or work table. v

'Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view mainly in longitudinal section on line 3--3 'of'Figs. 2 and 4 with 'thejaw members in closed or actuated position.

:-Fig. "4 is a fragmentary plan view with the jaw-members in open" position.

"Fig."'5-is a fragmentary front'view with aset of belt lacing hooks in position in the jaw unit and a fragmentbfabeltin position to receive the fasteners. h

Fig. 6 is 'a fragmentary View in section on line -6-6"of Figs. 1' and 3 showing certain'of the structurahdetails.

In the-embodiment of my invention illustrated, the frame comprises a pair ofxside'members I, l connected in'spaced" relation by'suitable. cross members'2. These side;members are, as shown,

stamped *upfrom 'suitablegaugej plates and have flanges '3 at the lower edges thereof which-constitute-feet or they may be'used'as attaching flanges to receive bolts 4' for'securing the machine to a'ben'ch ortablei' However, the unit is especially twell a'dapted asa portable unit-that is, itrmay' be "carried r about a factory for convenient use.

I provide-1a ypair of leverlike jaw members "designated.wgenerally by the numerals "'6, '6" and cross member I 5.

stitute thrust members "for the abutments.

' -any slight vertical movementof the thrust mem- Which'in this embodiment are formedof a plurality of plates 1 arranged in-spaced relation, as

-illustrated in Fig.4. 'These plates are rigidly connected together so that in efiectthey form a ,javvlunit. At theirlower ends, they are connected by cross bars or-rods 8 which have reduced portions :9 engagingthe horizontal slots H) in the-side "plates I, l thereby supporting the lower endsof the jaw members for limited sliding movement on'theframe.

The jaw-members are providedwith fulcruming rockers -ll having vertically I curved outwardly facing faces [2 coacting with the abut- "frame," these members being carried by the pins 1 l8 projecting inwardly from the side members I and having spacing sleeves l9 thereonsee Figs. 3 and 6. "'Ihere" are a pair of these bracketlike supports [1, one for each rod I6, and they are-secured to the opposite side members 2, as

' illustrated inlFig. 6, hence it is'not deemed necessary to further illustrate this duplicate construction.

The rods I6 are threaded at one end, asat 20, to receive the nuts2l which'have notched flanges 22 adapted" to receive pins '23 for retaining the nuts in "their adjusted positions. The nuts con- On the opposite ends, the rods are provided with sprocket wheels 24, the hubs 25 of which are secure'dto the rods and serve as thrust members for the abutments at that end of the rods.

The rods l6 extend parallel to the plates 1 of thejawmembers 6 lying in the vertical space between'the respective pairs of; said plates.

The sprockets .areconnected by the sprocket chainlii and one-of the sprockets is provided with a crank'Z'IWhich provides means for siinultaneously adjusting the abutments to and from each other, this adjustment being made to accommodatebelts of difierent thickness.

-.The jaw members .areurged against their -abutments by means .of springs 28 arrangedon the rodswith their inner ends in supportingengagement withjthe sleeves .29 on the rods and their outer .endshengaging thrust members 30 which are engaged with'the jawmember plates at 3|.

These thrustmemberslflhave apertures receiving'the rods I6 of sufficient size to accommodate bers relative to the rods occurring upon rocking of the jaw members. However, the movement of the thrust members 30 with reference to rods I6 is practically exclusively parallel thereto and coaxial therewith.

The jaw members are provided with opposed jaw thrust bars or members 32 which extend across the plates and are secured to their inner edges in a plane above the fulcrum points of the jaw members so that when the jaw members are actuated or rocked on their fulcrums in one direction, the jaw thrust bars are moved toward each other and in the oppposite direction they are moved away from each other. In the structure illustrated, the jaw thrust bars 32 'are secured to the plates by means of screws 33 which are arranged through cross pieces 34 extending between pairs of platessee Figs. 3 and 4. This permits removal or changing of the thrust bars as occasion may require.

In the embodiment illustrated, I provide a very powerfulractuating means consisting of a pair of toggle links 35 which are pivotally mounted on the cross bars 8 at their outer ends and. are pivotally connected to each other by the pivot member 36 which is provided with vertical guideways at each end at 31, see Fig. 6. The rack 38 is connected to the member 36 and is provided with a driving pinion 39, it being supported in driving engagement by this pinion by the roller 40. The pinion is provided with a shaft 4| projecting through the front frame member and having a double crank 42 thereon. This toggle and rack and pinion actuating means taken in connection with the mounting and fulcrumming of the jaw members provides a very powerful actuating means and at the same time one in which there is no excessive or severe strains on any of the parts.

The fastener setting unit illustrated is substantially that of my Patent No. 1,984,634 dated Dec. 18, 1934, and it comprises a fastener holder 43 having a series of transverse slots 44 therein designed to receive and hold in properly spaced relation the lacing fasteners 45. This holder has a longitudinal hole 46 therein adapted to receive the retaining pin 41 which extends above the bights of the hooks or fasteners, as shown in Fig. 5.

The jaw unit comprises a pair of opposed jaws 48. The jaw unit is provided with end plates 49 which have cammed slots 50 and 5| engaged by the pins 52 and 53 respectively as is described in detail in my said patent.

The jaw unit is mounted on the jaw thrust bars 32, the jaw unit having bars 54 secured across the tops thereof and terminating in arms 55 having slots 56 engaging pins 51 on the ends of the jaw thrust members 32. This allows a semifloating movement of the jaw unit as the jaws are swung to closed position by the actuation of the jaw members. It will be noted that the cross pieces 54 overhang the upper edges of the jaw thrust members.

With a set of belt lacing hooks or fasteners in position a belt, as 58, is positioned between them as shown in Fig. ,5, the jaw members actuated tion to each other when the fasteners are completely set as shown in Fig. 3.

. The machine may be quickly adjusted to belts of different thicknesses by adjusting the abutment members. Inasmuch as the jaw members have rocking fulcruming engagement with these abutment members, there is little if any frictional engagement and actuating means such as the toggle can perform efi'iciently in actuating the members to close the jaw thrust members. It will be observed that in addition to the toggle action, there is a very effective leverage and this of course may be varied considerably but the structure I have shown is sufiiciently powerful for a wide range of belts and the parts are such that they can be economically produced and assembled.

I have illustrated and described a very satisfactory embodiment of my invention. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I I

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a frame comprising spaced side members having horizontally disposed slots therein, of jaw members comprisinga plurality of spaced vertically disposed plates, cross bars connecting the lower ends of said plates and slidably supported in said slots, fulcrum rockers having vertically curved faces mounted on the outer edges of said plates, opposed jaw thrust bars mounted on the inner edges of said plates in a plane above the said fulcrum rockers, opposed abutment members for said fulcrum rockers, means for simultaneously actuating said jaw members, a spring connecting said cross bars and acting to open said jaw members, and a jaw'unit comprising a pair of jaws carried by said jaw thrust bars, said thrust bars being adapted when the jaw members are actuated to clampingly engage the sides of the jaws.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a frame comprising spaced side members having horizontally disposed slots therein, of jaw members, cross barsconnected to said jaw members and slidablysupported in said slots, fulcrum rockers having vertically curved faces mounted on the outer edges of said plates, opposed jaw thrust bars mounted on the inner edges of said jaw members in a plane above the said fulcrum rockers, opposed abutment members for said fulcrum rockers, a jaw unit comprising a pair of jaws carried by said jaw thrust bars and adapted when the jaw members are actuated to clampinglyenga ge the sides of the jaws, and means for simultaneously actuating said cross bars to approach and retract said jaw members.

3. In a structure of the class'described, the

combination of jaw members mounted .at their said thrust members being adapted'when thejaw members are actuated to clampingly engage the aws.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination of jaw members mounted at their lower ends for sliding movement and provided with fulcrum rockers having outwardly facing curved faces, opposed abutment members coacting with said fulcrum rockers, means for simultaneously adjusting said abutment members to and from each other, opposed jaw thrust members disposed so that they are moved to and from each other by the fulcruming movement of said jaw members, a toggle actuating means connecting the lower ends of said jaw members, a spring acting to move the lower ends of said jaw members toward each other to thereby open the jaw members, and a belt lacing setting unit supported by said jaw members and actuated to closed position by the actuation of said jaw members, the jaws of said lacing unit being connected to said jaw members so that they are automatically opened by the opening of said jaw members.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of jaw members, means for confining a portion of said jaw members to lateral sliding movement, opposed abutment members on which said jaw members are fulcrumed, means for simultaneously adjusting said abutment members to and from each other, opposed jaw thrust members disposed so that they are moved to and from each other by the fulcruming movement of said jaw members, means for simultaneously actuating said jaw members, and a belt lacing setting unit supported by said jaw members and actuated to closed position by the actuation of said jaw members, the jaws of said lacing unit being connected to said jaw members so that they are automatically opened by 40 the opening of said jaw members.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination of opposed abutment members mounted for adjustment to and from each other, jaw members slidably supported at their lower 45 ends and having f-ulcruming rockers coacting with said abutment members, and jaws carried by said jaw members and so disposed relative to the fulcruming of said jaw members that the jaw members when closed have a lever-like jaw 50 closing action, and a toggle for actuating said jaw members comprising links pivotally connected to the said jaw members and to each other, a rack connected to the links, and a driving pinion operatively associated with the rack.

combination of jaw members supported at their lower ends for limited sliding movement, opposed abutments with which said jaw members have iulcruming engagement, means for simultaneously adjusting said abutments, jaw thrust members disposed on said jaw members so that they are moved toward and from each other by the i'ulcruming movement of said jaw members, and

a belt lacing setting unit comprising a lacing holder and a pair of opposed lacing setting jaws operatively associated therewith, and arms on said jaws having slotted engagement with said jaw thrust members, said jaw thrust members being adapted when the jaw members arein acf tuated position to parallel and clampingly engage the said lacing setting jaws.

9. In a structure of the class described, the combination of jaw members supported at their lower ends for limited sliding movement, opposed abutments with which said jaw members have fulcruming engagement, jaw thrust members disposed on said jaw members so that they are moved toward and from each other by the fulcruming movement of said jaw members, and a belt lacing setting unit comprising a lacing holder and a pair of opposed lacing setting jaws operatively associated therewith, and arms on said jaws having slotted engagement with said jaw thrust members, said jaw thrust members being adapted when the jaw members are in actuated position to parallel and clampingly engage the said lacing setting jaws.

10. In a structure of the class described, the combination of jaw members mounted for fulcruming movement and having a portion thereof restrained for lateral sliding movement, means for simultaneously actuating said jaw members on their fulcrums, the fulcrums being simultaneously adjustable to and from each other, and a lacing setting unit comprising a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on said jaw members.

JAMES K. DIAMOND. 

